JP3919035B2 - Information guidance system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention provides a system for giving information such as information on the location of the person to the individual or information on the object that the person is in close proximity to, as well as healthy persons including the visually impaired, the hearing impaired and the elderly. This is an information guidance system that provides information on a position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is a device for guiding a current position or the like to a visually impaired person. For example, a sign body and a carrying unit carried by each individual are provided, and the sign body always transmits information on the position where the sign body is installed by FM weak radio waves. When this signal is received by the carrying unit, sound is output from the speaker or earphone of the carrying unit. Other methods include the following. A sign body and a carrying unit carried by each individual are provided, and the sign body always transmits, for example, a long wave drive signal. When the sign body receives this drive signal, the drive voltage is excited by electromagnetic induction action to activate the control section of the sign body, and the position information where the sign body is installed is output as audio from the speaker. In some cases, the carrying part of the sign body is detected by microwaves, not by long waves. In this case, the driving power source is connected to the microwave transmitter of the marker by receiving the microwave.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the system in which the marker transmits the position information to the carrying unit as described above and the area for receiving FM weak radio waves is a wide area with a radius of about 3 m, the position is narrow within the radius. It is difficult to accurately grasp the scope.
[0004]
Further, in the system in which the carrying unit is driven by the sign body by electromagnetic induction or microwave action, and the sign body transmits the information on the position or the article at the position to the carrying unit, the sign body is Since the sound is output from the speaker, it is difficult for the user to recognize the direction of the sound source depending on the installation location of the speaker and the noise around the speaker. When such information is heard, it may be recognized on the left side with respect to an accurate direction, and it may be difficult to obtain azimuth information at an arbitrary position. Furthermore, in the system based on the action of electromagnetic induction or microwave, the distance between the marked body and the carrying part that can provide information is as short as about 1 m, so it is difficult to receive information unless it is in the vicinity of the marked body. A taxiway to the sign such as a Braille block is required.
[0005]
In systems driven by the use of microwaves, there is a possibility that electromagnetic interference may affect electronic equipment, especially in hospitals, there are cases of cardiac pacemaker shutdown, and the use of such electromagnetic induction and microwaves is limited .
[0006]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to increase the possibility that the user enjoys providing information, correctly guides the information source, and affects the electronic equipment due to electromagnetic interference. It is to provide a safe information guidance system that is difficult to give.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, an information guidance system according to the present invention includes an infrared detector that is disposed at a predetermined location and detects infrared rays, and an ID signal or audio data that is individualized at each predetermined location by detecting infrared rays. An ID tag including an infrared light emitter that transmits a signal or a character string signal by an infrared signal together with a header indicating the signal type; and an infrared transmitter that is carried by an individual and transmits an infrared ray for notifying the ID tag of an approach. An infrared receiver for receiving an infrared signal from the ID tag, and an infrared signal level from the ID tag is equal to or higher than a predetermined first level or higher than the first level and at a predetermined second level. A level monitoring unit for monitoring whether there is a vibration device, an audio output device, a display device, and when the infrared signal is equal to or higher than a second level. A signal type determination unit for determining a signal type included in the infrared signal by a digital signal processor, and when the infrared signal is determined to have an ID signal, the personalized ID signal is decoded and the pre-stored guide information is decoded. A decoder that reads out the encoded code, an audio data input / output controller that decodes the individualized audio data and outputs guidance information when it is determined that there is an audio data signal in the infrared signal, and a character display output controller And a voice synthesizer that obtains guidance information by voice synthesis using the character string signal when it is determined that there is a character string signal in the infrared signal and the infrared signal is equal to or higher than a first level. And a switch for connecting the sensing signal to the vibration device or the voice output device or the character display output controller, and the vibration device. The character display output controller vibrates in accordance with the sensing signal, and the character display output controller transmits the information on the infrared reception state to the display device by the sensing signal and determines that the infrared signal has a character string signal and displays the character on the display device. If so, the guidance information is controlled to be output by the character string signal, and the voice output unit reads the guidance information read by the decoder by the sensing signal, the guidance information from the voice data input / output controller, or from the voice synthesizer. It consists of a portable device that emits guidance information.
[0008]
[Action]
The operation of the information guidance system according to the present invention is as follows. The display is performed by a character display output controller to which the character string signal is inputted. The voice output of the guidance information is obtained by synthesizing the voice by a voice synthesizer to which a character string signal is input, and the earphone or the speaker can be heard via the voice output unit. Furthermore, when the switch is connected to the vibration device, the vibration device starts to characterize the vibration at the second level according to the vibration intermittent time or vibration intensity, and the user's carrying part is at the second level. Notify that it is above.
[0009]
【Example】
Embodiments of the information guidance system according to the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment. In FIG. 1, 101 is an ID tag installed at a predetermined location, 102 is a control unit that controls the entire ID tag 101, 103 is an ID signal (numerical data) of guidance information individualized for each installed location. An ID storage unit that stores the information in a format; 104, a voice storage unit that stores information that is individualized for each installed location as digitally encoded audio information; and 105, information that is individualized for each installed location. A character string storage unit that stores character string code data, 106 is an infrared detector, and 107 is an infrared emitter that transmits an infrared signal that is individualized for each installed location. 108 is a portable device carried by an individual, 109 is a control unit that controls the entire portable device 108, 110 is an infrared transmitter that transmits infrared rays to notify the ID tag 101 of an approach, and 111 is the ID tag 101. An infrared receiver 112 that receives an infrared signal from the infrared light emitter 107, and 112 is a predetermined first level or higher than the first level, and the infrared signal received by the infrared receiver 111 is a predetermined level. A level monitoring unit for monitoring whether the level is the second level, 113 is a first switch for selectively connecting a sensing signal of the first level or higher from the level monitoring unit 112 to each unit described later, and 114 is the level monitoring unit 112. A vibration device that vibrates by inputting the sensing signal from the head 115 when the infrared signal is equal to or higher than a second level. A signal type determination unit for determining a signal type included in the infrared signal, 116 is a decoder for decoding the ID signal of the individualized infrared signal, and 117 is a voice from which guide information is read out using the decoded ID signal as an address. A storage unit 118 is a voice data input / output controller that decodes the voice data of the individualized infrared signal, and 119 is capable of displaying a character string signal of the individualized infrared signal on a display device to be described later. A character display output controller 120 for conversion is a display device composed of a liquid crystal, and displays character information from the character display output controller as characters and inputs a sensing signal from the level monitoring unit 112 in advance. Display specified character information. 121 is a voice synthesizer that obtains guidance information by synthesizing voice by the individual character string signal of the infrared signal, 122 is a second switch for selecting whether character display or voice synthesis is performed by the character string signal, and 123 The guidance information read from the voice storage unit 117, the guidance information decoded by the voice data input / output controller 118, and the guidance information from the voice synthesizer 121 are uttered by voice and a sensing signal from the level monitoring unit 112 is generated. An audio output device that displays predetermined audio information upon input, 124 is an earphone, 125 is a speaker, and 126 is a third switch for switching to the earphone 124 or the speaker 125. FIG. 2 shows an external view of the ID tag 101, and FIG. 3 shows an external view of the portable device 108. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example.
[0010]
The ID tag 101 is configured as a wall-mounted type, a ceiling-mounted type, or a hanging type, and is arranged at the following locations.
[0011]
Corridors of public facilities such as hospitals, government offices, entrances of rooms, etc. [0012]
Museums, museum corridors, exhibition halls, amusement park corridors, entrances to each facility, library corridors, entrances to each room, shelves for each collection of books, etc.
Product shelves, passages, etc. of self-service stores such as department stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores [0014]
Railroad and subway station premises and airport terminal passages, facilities, counters, etc.
Corridors, facilities, etc. in the workplace for the visually impaired [0016]
Living area and its surroundings for the visually impaired [0017]
Arbitrary locations in hotel rooms, hotel lobbies, toilets, etc. [0018]
Destination display boards for buses, trains, taxis, etc.
The ID tag 101 includes an infrared detector 106 and an infrared light emitter 107, and may be operated by a battery or a commercial power source, and may be operated by a solar cell when arranged outdoors. The infrared detector 106 has a wide range of detection angles depending on the facility where the ID tag 101 is installed. For example, when used for merchandise guidance / passage guidance in a supermarket or a convenience store, a product that detects a narrow detection range for distinguishing from adjacent merchandise is used. When there is no need to distinguish between adjacent target locations like an amusement park, a device with a wide detection range is used. In order to widen the detection range, for example, the detection directions of the plurality of infrared detectors 106 are arranged differently. The infrared light emitter 107 is composed of a light emitting diode, and is driven when the infrared detector 106 detects infrared light, and transmits an infrared signal. At this time, the infrared detection operation of the infrared detector 106 is stopped, and the light emission operation of the infrared emitter 107 is not performed simultaneously. The infrared signal is a signal for individualizing each ID tag 101 within an area where the information guidance system is operated. The signal to be individualized is an ID signal, a voice data signal, or a character string signal, and each signal is stored in advance in the ID storage unit 103, the voice storage unit 104, and the character string storage unit 105 before operation. The ID signal is a pattern signal corresponding to a number added to each location where the ID tag 101 is arranged, and is recorded by a data input device (not shown). The audio data is audio data of a digital code indicating the place or article where the ID tag 101 is arranged, and the guidance information is recorded by audio by the operation manager of the system or the user himself / herself. The character string code is a code string indicating a place or an article where the ID tag 101 is arranged, and the character string is input by a data input device (not shown). The infrared signal transmitted from the infrared light emitter 107 is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example, and has guide information data next to the header. In FIG. 5A, an ID signal is sent following a header m indicating that the signal type is an ID signal. In FIG. 5B, a digitally encoded audio signal is sent following a header n indicating that the signal type is a digitally encoded audio signal. In FIG. 5C, a character string signal is sent following the header p indicating that the signal type is a character string signal. The generation of these headers and the transmission timing of the header and guide information are performed under the control of the control unit 102. When an ID signal is set when an ID tag 101 is added to a facility, for example, a number not assigned to an existing ID signal is sequentially added to the ID signal number corresponding to a new location name or article name. Append to the number. Moreover, if a pattern corresponding to stairs, toilets, etc. is defined and transmitted as a code common to users, the trouble of managing ID tag numbering can be saved.
[0020]
The portable device 108 is carried by an individual, and includes a control unit 109, an infrared transmitter 110, an infrared receiver 111, a level monitoring unit 112, a first switch 113, a vibration device 114, a signal type determination unit 115, and a decoder. 116, voice storage unit 117, voice data input / output controller 118, character display output controller 119, display device 120, voice synthesizer 121, second switch, voice output unit 123, earphone 124, speaker 125, third A switch 126 is provided and is operated by a battery. Further, the portable device 108 is separated into an infrared transmission / reception part and a main body part, and the infrared transmission / reception part is attached to a pocket entrance, glasses, a hat, a collar, etc. with the infrared light emitting port and the infrared light receiving port facing outside. And put the body part in your pocket or hold it in your hand. When an ID signal is used as guidance information and is used for route guidance from a certain point to a destination, the ID tag 101 is sequentially added from the reception to the destination (destination location, exit, etc.). Corresponding to the number, set the continuation or change direction of the route to go to the destination from that location, or if necessary, the name of the location or the guide information such as goods or goods placed at that location, and the number in advance Corresponding information is stored in the voice storage unit 117. The infrared transmitter 110 emits infrared rays from the LEDs at a predetermined cycle in order to notify the ID tag 101 of the approach, and emits infrared rays at a wide angle. Since the infrared radiation is distinguished within the area where the information guidance system is operated, an intermittent pattern specific to the area may be used. At this time, the infrared detector 106 of the ID tag 101 described above includes a pattern comparator 106a to determine whether it is effective in its own area, and detects infrared only for the effective one. The infrared receiver 111 enables reception of an infrared signal while the infrared transmitter 110 is radiating for a fixed period and is stopped for a fixed period. When infrared rays are transmitted within a predetermined detection range of the ID tag 101, an infrared signal emitted from the infrared emitter 107 can be received. However, depending on the position of the infrared receiver 111, there may be a case where the infrared signal from the infrared light emitter 107 of the ID tag 101 is received at a level that is not clearly recognized. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the area where the infrared signal can be received but the header cannot be clearly recognized has a fan-shaped opening larger than the area where the header can be clearly recognized. The area where the header can be clearly recognized depends on the element of the infrared emitter 107 of the ID tag 101, but is near the center of the front face at a distance close to the infrared emitter 107. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to correlate the communication information density (S / N) with the communicable area, and it is possible to increase the possibility that the user acquires information, and to acquire detailed information reliably. it can. In particular, in a place where the arrangement interval of the articles is narrow, the possibility of correctly reaching the information source can be increased by setting a narrow range in which the header can be clearly recognized. By changing the first level and the second level in FIG. 7, the section angle in FIG. 7 can be changed to change the region angle. This can be realized by determining the S / N level of the portable device 108, that is, changing the threshold value of the portable device 108, or changing the light emission output of the infrared light emitter 107 of the ID tag 101 or changing the number of light emitting elements. .
[0021]
The level monitoring unit 112 monitors the level of the infrared signal. When the infrared signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined first level, a sensing signal is output. When the first switch 113 is connected to the vibration device 114, the vibration device 114 is driven. The user senses the vibration of the portable device 108 and knows that he / she cannot receive guidance information but is in the vicinity thereof. When the first switch 113 is connected to the audio output device 123, the audio output device 123 inputs voice information that is set in advance by inputting a sensing signal, for example, guidance information that “the ID tag is near”. And the user can listen to this through the earphone 124 or the speaker 125. When the first switch 113 is connected to the character display controller 119, the character display controller 119 inputs a sensing signal to set character information set in advance, for example, “ID tag is near”. The guidance information is output to the display device 120, and the user can read the characters on the display surface of the display device 120. The user changes the direction of the portable device 108 so that the infrared receiver 111 can easily receive the infrared signal from the ID tag 101. When the level monitoring unit 112 detects that the level of the received infrared signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined second level, the signal type determination unit 115 determines the header of the infrared signal. When the header indicates an ID signal, the decoder 116 decodes the pattern of the ID signal received by the infrared receiver 111, and obtains a number added to the place where the ID tag 101 is placed. The voice output unit 123 reads information in the voice storage unit 117 using the number decoded by the decoder 116 as an address, and outputs the information from the earphone 124 or the speaker 125 through the voice output unit 123 as voice information. When the header indicates a digitally encoded audio signal, the audio data input / output controller 118 multiplexes the audio data received by the infrared receiver 111 and converts the decoded guidance information via the audio output unit 123 into audio. Output. When the header indicates a character string code and the second switch 122 has selected to display characters, the character string code data is input to the character display output controller 119 under the control of the control unit 102. The character display output controller 119 converts the character string code data to be displayable and causes the display device 120 to display the guide information as characters. When the header indicates a character string code and the second switch 122 has selected to output sound without displaying characters, the character string code data is input to the speech synthesizer 121 under the control of the control unit 102. To do. The voice synthesizer 121 synthesizes voice with the character string code data and outputs it to the voice output unit 123. The audio output unit 123 outputs the guidance information as audio.
[0022]
In the above example, the ID signal is transmitted from the infrared transmitter 110 from the portable device 108 provided by the person with the auditory function, and the pattern comparator 106a of the ID tag 101 transmits the ID signal indicating that pattern signal. It is determined that the signal is to be transmitted, and the ID signal is transmitted together with the header indicating the ID signal. Similarly, the transmission of the digitally encoded voice signal or the character string code is performed by the transmission comparison determination of the pattern signal for distinguishing each. Alternatively, the ID tag 101 may be used exclusively for an ID signal, a digitally encoded audio signal, or a character string code.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the possibility that the user can enjoy the provision of information can be increased, the information source can be guided to the correct source, and the communication between the ID tag and the portable device is performed by infrared rays. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a safe information guidance system that does not easily affect electronic devices.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an example of an external view of an ID tag.
FIG. 3 is an example of an external view of a portable device.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an infrared signal.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an infrared signal receivable area.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a signal level of an infrared signal and a receivable area.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... ID tag, 102 ... Control part, 103 ... ID memory | storage part, 104 ... Audio | speech memory | storage part, 105 ... Character string storage part, 106 ... Infrared detector, 107 ... Infrared light emitter, 108 ... Portable device, 109 ... Control part , 110 ... infrared transmitter, 111 ... infrared receiver, 112 ... level monitoring unit, 113 ... first switch, 114 ... vibration device, 115 ... signal type determination unit, 116 ... decoder, 117 ... voice storage unit, 118 ... voice data input / output controller, 119 ... character display output controller, 120 ... display device, 121 ... voice synthesizer, 122 ... second switch, 123 ... voice output device, 124 ... earphone, 125 ... speaker, 126 ... Third switch.

Claims (1)

An infrared detector that is arranged at a predetermined location and detects infrared rays, and a header indicating the signal type by infrared signals of ID signals, voice data signals, or character string signals that are individualized for each predetermined location by detecting infrared rays An ID tag comprising an infrared emitter to transmit with,
An infrared transmitter that is carried by an individual and transmits an infrared ray for notifying the ID tag of an approach, an infrared receiver that receives an infrared signal from the ID tag, and a level of the infrared signal from the ID tag is predetermined. A level monitoring unit that monitors whether the first level or higher or the first level or higher and a predetermined second level; a vibration device; an audio output device; a display device; and the infrared signal. A signal type determination unit that determines the signal type included in the infrared signal by the header when the level is equal to or higher than the second level, and if the infrared signal is determined to have an ID signal, the personalized ID signal is decoded. A decoder that reads pre-stored guidance information with a decoded code, and decodes individualized voice data if it is determined that there is a voice data signal in the infrared signal Voice data input / output controller for outputting guidance information, character display output controller, and voice synthesis based on the character string signal when it is determined that there is a character string signal in the infrared signal and no character is displayed. A voice synthesizer for obtaining guidance information; and a switch for connecting a detection signal having the infrared signal of a first level or higher to the vibration device, the voice output device or the character display output controller, and the vibration device. Vibrates in response to the sensing signal, and the character display output controller sends information on the infrared receiving state to the display device by the sensing signal and determines that there is a character string signal in the infrared signal. When displaying, guidance information is output controlled by the character string signal, and the voice output device guides the decoder read by the sensing signal. Broadcast or information guidance system characterized by comprising a carrying unit for emitting a guide information or guidance information from said speech synthesizer from the audio data input-output control unit.

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